The first Russian patriarch: history, biography

At the end of the 16th century the first Russian patriarch was elected. They became Job, who had previously been Metropolitan of Moscow and All Russia. For the period of his patriarchate, there were many state crises.

early years

The future first Russian patriarch was born in 1525 in the town of Staritsa near Moscow . In the world he was called Ivan. He came from townspeople. The boy went to study at the school, which belonged to the Assumption Monastery in Starytsky.

There, in 1556, Ivan took a monastic vows, in which he received the name of Job. His decision to devote his life to the church was directly influenced by Archimandrite Herman. Job became one of the most educated and outstanding people in the Russian Orthodox Church. His personal qualities allowed the monk to become a prominent person in his monastery.

Under Ivan the Terrible

In the period from 1566 to 1571 the future first Russian patriarch was the hegumen of his native Starytsky Dormition Monastery. Perhaps Job would have stayed on this place for a long time, if the Moscow Region were not part of oprichnina according to the reforms of Ivan the Terrible. So the abbot met the king. Ivan Vasilyevich made him the abbot of the monastery. Soon Job moved to Moscow.

In the early 80's, the church leader was first bishop of Kolomna, and then archbishop of Rostov. The first Russian patriarch, before becoming the main person of the church, traveled a lot around the country. He also had a significant number of connections in the state environment. In the last years of the reign of Ivan the Terrible, Job approached Boris Godunov. These relations determined the fate of the archbishop.

Prerequisites for the appearance of the patriarchate

In 1584, Ivan the Terrible passed away. On the throne was his son Fyodor, who was noted for his poor health and dependence on his brother-in-law Boris Godunov. Approximate monarch began to establish his own order in Moscow. He dealt with the enemies and put friends on important public posts. Among them was the future first Russian Orthodox patriarch.

In 1586, Boris Godunov contributed to the fact that Job was elected Metropolitan of Moscow. At that time it was the highest rank in the Russian Orthodox Church. The metropolitan depended only on the Patriarch of Constantinople, whom then was Jeremiah II.

Since its inception, the Russian Orthodox Church has been subordinate to the Greek hierarchs from the Byzantine Empire. At first the metropolitans were not even born Slavs, but came from Constantinople. However, in the 16th century the situation became completely different. In 1453, Constantinople was captured by the Turks. The world capital of Orthodoxy has become an Islamic city. The Church of Constantinople lost its former influence, and its patriarch lived in exile.

This could not but affect the mood in Moscow. Ivan the Terrible became the first Russian tsar to take such a title (in fact, he was equal to the imperial one, that is, Byzantine). But if politically Moscow has emphasized its elevation, then in the religious plane - not yet.

Organization of the reform

In 1586 the Moscow authorities found a convenient occasion to finally organize the establishment of their own patriarchate. At this time, the West of Russia visited Joachim. It was the Patriarch of Antioch, the head of one of the eastern churches. Joachim sent a letter to Moscow with a request to allow entry into the royal capital. This was the first time since the fall of Constantinople, when the patriarch visited the Kremlin. Moscow was delighted with the request. Joachim on the way waiting for three embassies.

The Patriarch of Antioch met with Tsar Fedor Ivanovich. At the same time, the first arrangements were made for the establishment of the Russian patriarchate. To carry out the procedure of establishment, Moscow needed to enlist the support of all the major eastern churches. Joachim was the first patriarch on this list. After he left Russia, direct activities began to prepare for an important church reform.

The role of Godunov

The main initiator of the establishment of the patriarchate in Russia was, of course, Boris Godunov. For him, this was an important step not so much religious, as in the political sense. Since Fedor Ivanovich was on the throne, his brother-in-law became the de facto ruler of the country. However, he looked to the future, obviously dreaming about the throne. Circumstances were on the side of Godunov. Fedor and Irina (Boris's sister) had no children to whom the power could pass by law.

Godunov was the sole ruler. It was important for him to control the entire state machine. The church for him was an important political tool. Therefore, the royal brother-in-law wanted to receive a patriarch loyal to himself.

For this role, Godunov immediately chose Job. There was a long-standing trust between them. As time showed, the first Russian Orthodox patriarch remained a loyal ally of Godunov, even in the most difficult moments for him.

His Holiness the Patriarch

Job was appointed Patriarch on February 5, 1589. His first serious undertaking in a new capacity was to help the Georgian Tsar Alexander. This monarch was caught between two powerful Muslim powers - Turkey and Persia. To somehow preserve his country, Alexander accepted Russian citizenship.

Now the Georgian monarch needed help in putting things in order in church affairs. Just at this time, the first Russian patriarch was Job. He wrote two great letters to the king, which have survived to this day. In his letters, the patriarch gave advice to Alexander against the heretics who split the Orthodox Church in Georgia. Job selected several icon painters and theologians. They were sent to the Caucasus to revive the Georgian Christian life. Preserved diplomas, which the first patriarch of the Russian church sent to Alexander, indicate his great education and erudition. The years spent in the monasteries affected. At the same time, Job mercilessly criticized not only heretics and Muslims, but also Catholics with Protestants.

Participation in public policy

When the first Russian patriarch became Job, Boris Godunov hoped to make him his support in the system of secular power. This plan was successful. The fact is that Job, unlike all his predecessors (still metropolitans), actively participated in state affairs. After a daily service in the Moscow churches, the patriarch went to the meetings of the Boyar Duma, where he defended and promoted Boris Godunov's ideas in this or that aspect of politics.

But even before that, the opinion of Job's predecessors weighed heavily. On councils with the tsar, where the entire state elite was present, by tradition the first patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church received the right to speak at the very beginning of the event. God-fearing Fyodor Ivanovich always listened attentively to his advice and instructions.

The election of the first Russian patriarch, even at a formal level, markedly changed the state foundations. Now the head of the Russian Orthodox Church has officially become the second person in the country. On his shoulders lay a great burden and responsibility, whether he wanted it or not. This principle Russia adopted from Byzantium. In the empire at all times, the patriarch and emperor were almost equivalent figures.

Church affairs

Of course, the election of the first Russian patriarch is connected with the name of Boris Godunov. In 1598, he finally became the king after the death of his predecessor, Fyodor Ivanovich. Godunov did not belong to the reign of the Rurik dynasty. This did not add to his authority in the eyes of the boyars. Nevertheless, the new king established a strict one-man regime of power.

The election of Job (the first Russian patriarch) was necessary to Godunov in order to gain additional support when he was only an approximate monarch. Now the situation has changed, and the head of the church has almost ceased to participate in public life.

Instead, Job engaged in Christianization of the Volga and Siberia. These lands were recently annexed to Russia. Many Muslims and Gentiles lived on their expanses. The name of the first Russian patriarch is connected with the opening of churches in these regions. Christianization of Siberia and the Volga region went in parallel with the influx of Russian population from the central regions.

Enemy of False Dmitry

Boris Godunov failed to preserve peace in his country. First, Russia was struck by hunger, which led to unrest among the people. The fatal blow to the king was the appearance of False Dmitry. The impostor came with a large army to Moscow. Godunov was rescued from death by natural death at a feast.

After his death, it became clear that Job did not retain the rank of patriarch. Supporters of False Dmitry seized him and sent him into exile in his native Staritsky monastery. Soon, False Dmitry appeared in Moscow. On his orders, Fyodor Godunov, the son of Boris, who was a tsar for only a few weeks, was killed.

Exile

Even before his appearance in Moscow, False Dmitry was anathema. He was excommunicated from the church by the first Russian patriarch. The life story of this hierarch draws us a person who has not abandoned his principles and loyalty to the legitimate king. When Fedor was killed, Job returned to the capital and served in the Assumption Cathedral in the Kremlin. For this he was captured and sent into exile. The supporters of the False Dmitry wanted to humiliate the eighty-year old elder as much as possible. He was torn off the patriarch's robes and expelled from the capital.

Instead of Job, Otrepiev elected his supporter Ignatius as patriarch. However, the procedure for his appointment was illegal. Formally Job (the first Russian patriarch) was not even deprived of his rank, although he was expelled from Moscow.

Rehabilitation and death

Very soon, False Dmitry lost power. He surrounded himself with Polish Catholics, which the people did not like very much. Boyars also were against the impostor because of his tyrannical nature. In 1606, an uprising broke out in Moscow. False Dmitri tried to escape, but was captured and killed.

The power passed to the Moscow boyars. They elected Tsar Vasily Shuisky. The new monarch rehabilitated Job. The first patriarch even returned to Moscow. However, the old man refused to become the head of the church again. By that time, he was almost blind and was seriously ill. Job returned to his native Staritsa, where he died in 1607. The first patriarch was buried in a local monastery. In the XVII century, his remains were transferred to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin. The Russian Orthodox Church canonized Job in the face of saints.